3 dead in MD mall

Police believe the shooter is one of the victims but are continuing their investigation

COLUMBIA, MD |
January 25, 2014

At least three people were killed late Saturday morning in a store in large suburban shopping mall in Columbia, MD, according to Howard County Police.

Police were called to the Mall in Columbia about 11:15 AM with a report of gunfire. Subsequently they found three people dead in a store in the upper level of the large shopping mall. One of those killed is thought to be the shooter, according to William J. McMahon, the chief of police.

While police believe there was just one shooter and two victims, officers are continuing to search the nearly 1.4 million square foot mall to evacuate customers and employees and to determine if anyone else has been injured.

The Mall in Columbia is is a major regional enclosed shopping mall located between Baltimore and Washington. The mall has been expanded several times its initial construction in 1971. It is in the midst of an open air expansion that will add more than 70,000 square feet of retail space.